United States job openings unexpectedly surged in April to their highest level in nearly two years, signalling resilient demand for workers even as hiring activity slowed and employee confidence weakened.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported on Tuesday that available positions climbed to 7.6 million during April, an increase of 731,000 from the previous month and the highest reading since May 2024.
Economists had expected job openings to total 6.88 million.
The increase pushed the number of available jobs above the total number of unemployed workers. The job openings rate rose by 0.4 percentage points to 4.6% of the labour force.
Professional and business services accounted for the bulk of the increase, with openings rising by 668,000 positions. The sharp gain may indicate growing demand linked to artificial intelligence-related investment and business activity.
Healthcare and social assistance, traditionally one of the largest sources of job creation in the United States, added 89,000 openings during the month.
In contrast, financial activities recorded a decline of 134,000 available positions, while most other sectors experienced little change.
Despite the rise in vacancies, hiring activity weakened considerably.
Employers hired 5.12 million workers during April, down 419,000 from March. The hiring rate fell 0.3 percentage points to 3.2%.
Layoffs and discharges also eased, declining by 192,000 to 1.7 million workers. Meanwhile, the number of employees voluntarily leaving their jobs fell by 183,000 to just under 3 million, marking the lowest level since August 2020.
The decline in quits, often viewed as a measure of worker confidence in finding alternative employment, suggests employees remain cautious despite the increase in job openings.
The latest figures reinforce the low-hiring, low-firing environment that has characterised the U.S. labour market throughout much of 2025.
While demand for workers remains elevated, employers have been reluctant to aggressively expand payrolls, and workers have shown less willingness to change jobs.
The Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey, commonly known as JOLTS, remains closely watched by policymakers at the Federal Reserve as they assess labour market conditions and broader economic trends.
Federal Reserve officials spent much of last year focused on signs of labour market weakness. More recently, however, policymakers have shifted their attention towards inflation risks stemming from tariffs and higher energy prices.
The stronger-than-expected job openings data is unlikely to alter expectations that the Federal Reserve will leave interest rates unchanged at its meeting later this month, although it reinforces the view that the labour market remains relatively resilient despite mounting economic uncertainties.
Investors are now looking ahead to Friday's key nonfarm payrolls report for further evidence on whether hiring activity is slowing more broadly across the U.S. economy and how that may influence the Federal Reserve's policy outlook in the months ahead.
